In this article, learn about the U.S. post office locator tool located on usps.com. Get directions and find out how late each postal service location is open using this tool.
For times when the post office is already closed, consider looking up collection box locations using the same online tool.
United States Post Office Locator
The United States post office locator is part of the broader USPS services locator on the usps.com website. Individuals can search for the following services and landmarks using this tool:
- Alternate locations to buy stamps
- Automated postal centers
- Collection boxes
- Passport application services
- PO boxes online
- Post office locations
Find Closest U.S. Postal Service Maiing Locations
The article Post Office Locations Open Late on April 15th describes exactly how to access the United States post office locator. In a nutshell, navigate to the post office locator at the "USPS services locator" text link above, then input a local address as a point of reference, and choose to search by “post office locations.”
Detailed information will be listed for each USPS location resulting from this search; listed will be each location’s address, business hours, and how many miles it is away from the addressed entered.
Standard Hours of Operation & USPS Addresses
Displayed next to each result from the post office locator search will be the location’s standard business hours. All official postal service locations should be open Monday through Friday, albeit with varying opening and closing times. Some are open on Saturday; however, the USPS does not operate on Sundays. On weekdays, 9 a.m. and 10 a.m. are common opening times, and 4 p.m., 5 p.m., and 6 p.m. are common closing times.
Certain locations are open as late as midnight on high-volume mail days like April 15 (the last day to mail on-time individual federal tax returns or extensions to the IRS). For a detailed explanation of how to tell which postal service locations are open late that day, see the article Post Office Locations Open on April 15th above.
How Late is the Post Office Open? Use Mail Collection Box After Closing Time
Can’t make it to the post office in time? Consider using Click-N-Ship to print postage from home or simply affix appropriate postage and drop the letter or package in a nearby collection box. These mailboxes are typically located in convenient places like in front of grocery stores or other retail locations, near office buildings, at the corner of city block intersections, and even in post office parking lots. Oftentimes, the last daily collection for the mailboxes located in post office parking lots is after standard business hours.
To find these blue collection boxes, use the postal service locator above and choose to search by “collection boxes.” The box locations will be displayed on a road map. Below the map will be more information about each mailbox, including exact street address and distance from the address entered.
United States Federal Holidays & Post Office Closings
The USPS post office locator is useful in telling what time each postal location is typically open. However, how can individuals tell when the post office will be closed in observance of United States federal government holidays? Anyone interested in finding out when the mail won’t run will find these articles interesting:
2009 Postal Holidays, U.S. Post Office Closings
United States Federal Holidays in 2010
Resources:
United States Postal Service (USPS) website, usps.com
Lena Gott - Lena Gott is a Certified Public Accountant who gives practical financial advice to her readers.
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